KNI Newsletter

May 2013

As the two gigantic colorful carp streamers swung in the wind like real carp swimming in the sky, the children's joyful squeals echoed throughout the school yard.
The Mulberry trees' yellow green shoots have been growing big so fast, showing us their strong life force.
The three baby rabbits in the cage have grown enough to be able to move around vigorously. They are more adorable than ever!
The strawberries in our vegetable garden have turned red and seem very ready to be picked. You can pick one strawberry per person; please rinse it well before you eat!
May is full of fun activities, and the Sports Day is just around the corner. We hope that the children have a lot of fun this month!

- Play outside vigorously and enjoy the beautiful weather
- Develop interest in how the baby rabbits grow, as well as how butterflies, ladybugs or roly-polies move
- Make Koinobori ( Carp streamer ) craft for the Children's Day
- Develop a sense of gratitude for one's mother by making Mother’s Day gifts
- Learn about the origins of Koinobori
- Practice dance and games for the Sports Day and enjoy the event
- Keep working on jump rope charts ( Kiku class) and ganbari charts - achievement charts (Sakura class)

You must have noticed the big koinobori at Kodomo No Ie. Do you know why we fly koinobori? Long time ago there was a big waterfall in China. It was believed that a fish that swims up the waterfall all the way to the top will turn into a dragon. Many fish tried to do it but they all fell back into the basin of the waterfall. But one carp successfully swam up the waterfall, and turned into a dragon. We hope all the boys at Kodomo No Ie will grow healthy and strong like this carp, and that's why we fly koinobori on Children's Day.

As the school year is coming close to an end, I'd like you to take a moment and review the progress and changes your child has made. How do you see your child's growth so far?
Nensho class kids have made the first step into a social life. Nencho class kids are about to spread their wings to the next new step. Nenchu class kids are looking forward to their advancement to the Sakura class.
Do you feel strongly that each of them has grown up a lot?
For example, progress can be found in many areas such as: how to express one's feeling to peers while interacting with each other; how to apologize; how to follow the rules when playing games with peers; how to bounce back from a setback; how to follow the lifestyle at KNI; and the language development.
Especially this year, we incorporated teaching the children a key word each month, which is very important in social life. Have you noticed them using these words more often?
As the kids grew bigger and matured, we, the teachers have also learned a lot through sharing the children's joy and sorrow in their daily lives. We can remember so many moments when we were thrilled to see the children's joy though their accomplishments.
We can't stop feeling how wonderful KNI's children are; how different each child is and how they are all growing at their own paces.
All of the teachers are committed to taking good care of your little children and hope that the buds we planted in their heart at the beginning of school year last September will grow bigger and bigger into nice sprouts.
(Umehata)